Melbourne: India's top tennis player Somdev Devvarman was today handed a tough draw at the Australian Open as he is pitted against World No. 27 Feliciano Lopez of Spain in the first round of the men's singles event here.
Somdev, who has not being able to go past the second round in three attempts here, may face World No.4 Andy Murray of Britain if he manages to make the third round of the tournament.
If the world No. 93 Indian manages to overcome the first-round hurdle at this year's first Grand Slam, he would face the winner of the match between Michael Llodra of France and a qualifier in the second round.
There is little doubt that Somdev will have to play out of his skin in order to overcome the challenge from Lopez in the first round as he did not have an ideal start to the season.
In the run-up to the Australian Open, Somdev lost to compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan in the opening round of the Chennai Open before going down to Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in the ATP Apia International Qualifiers in Sydney.
